Work clamp for sewing machines



Ot. 29, 1946. A. R. woon WORK-CLAMP FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. R. wooD WORK-CLAMP FOB SEWING MACHINES Oct. 29, 1946. 2,410,399

Filed May 225,v 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jmmm:

Patented Oct. 279, 1946 WORK CLAMP Fon SEWING MACHINES Alfred` R. Wood, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 23, 1945, Serial No. 595,269`

17 Claims. 1

This' invention relates to sewing machines, more particularly of the type having stitch-forming mechanism and a work-clamp with means for relatively moving them to sew a predetermined group of stitches; the stitch-forming mechanism coming to rest automatically after the predetermined group of stitches has been sewn in the work. Machines of this type are commonly used for tacking and barring, buttonholing and other operations.

Machines of the type in question have been heretofore provided with a work-clamp adapted to Acooperate with the sewing machine stitching and feeding mechanism for the purpose of attaching labels to articles. When attaching labels to blankets and similar soft or spongy articles, the Work-clamp sinks into the soft or spongy material to a depth suicient to cause the margin of the label to curl or incline upwardly. When the free label-edge is thus inclined, it lieg` along a vertical wall of the clamp and is out of the needle path, with the result that the needle frequently fails to stitch the edge of the label to the article.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved work-clamp which is adapted to press a label or like article, against a soft or spongy sheet of material in a manner such that the area of the article which is to receive the stitches lies atwise against the sheet.

With the above and other objects in view, as Will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. y

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion'of a sewing machine provided with the present improvement.

Fig. 2 is a righty side longitudinal elevation, partly ini'vertical section of portions of the sewing machine and work-clamp; the section being taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom View, partly in section, of a portion of the work-clamp.

Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of the usual form of work-clamp which does`.not embody the present invention. This view would normally be taken substantially along line 5--5 of Fig. 1, if

the Work-clamp shown therein was of this type.

Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of the pres- 2 ent work-clamp taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is embodied in a sewing machine of the straight buttonhole type which is disclosed in U. S. Patent No., 885,310, April 21, 1908, E. B. Allen. l Y,

As partly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the present machine comprises a bed I in which is journaled a rock-shaft 2 driven by mechanism not herein shown. Upon one end of this shaft is mounted the usual shuttle-driver 3 which actuates the shuttle il carried in the race 5 which is in turn mounted upon the bed I. The machine has the usual endwise reciprocatcry and laterally vibra.-

tory eye-pointed needle 6 carried and actuated by mechanism not illustrated. The shuttle '4 cooperates with the needle 6 in forming lockstitches in a manner well-known.

The Work-clamp, except as hereinafter specifi-A,

Mounted, as usual,` on the cross-slide-plate8,v

is the stationary throat-plate or work-supporting plate II with the needle aperture I2.

Mounted in guideways I3, I3, in the crossslide-plate 8 is the longitudinal slide-frame or base-plate I 4 of the work-clamp.' The 'baseplate I4 has imparted to it, during a sewing period, step-by-step travelling movements lengthwise of the bed I, by the usual link I5 and leverf connection I6 with the usual feed-cam groove II in the feed-Wheel IIl., The base-plate I4 carries a lateral extension IS on which is pivoted, in the usual. manner, the upper clamp-arm I9 upon which' presses the usual ,clamp-closing springbiasing unit 20. The clamp-arm I9 includes two spaced forward extensions 2l, 22, to the ends of Whichis secured by screws 23, 24, the clamp-foot frame 25 having the rectangular stitch-receiving aperture, defined by the walls 26, and the serrated fabric-clamping ribsZ'I at the sides of the aperture. l The serrated ribs 2l act as Work-grip-l ping surfaces so as to clamp the work against the t smooth top surface portion 28 of the Work-supporting throat-plate II. The top portion28 of the throat-plate II is smooth throughout its afilados pivoted needle-thread cutter and nipper blades. 3l and 32 which are operated by mechanismcon:v

structed substantially in accordance with the disclosure of U. S. Patent No. 1,8395823; January 5,-V

The thread-'cutter operating l.

1932, A. R. Wood.

mechanism is not described herein as it forms no:

part or the present invention.,

According to the present invention, the vertical Walls 26, which define the elongated openingin.

the clamp, are provided with longitudinal grooves $3, 33 fin-A which; ist slidably .disposedthehead 3d! formed at the fron-t end of an elongated ilat label presser-blade f The blade; head 3%" is provided Wilha needle-clearance'slot-35; the blade 34 havingsasupportingjshanl;j E 6 'and sight `or label alin ing l'l'oles,f3l.` The shank. :e36/ of the blade is 4pivotally secured by a screw 38 to an ear 39 of a stationaryrbracket-member `xed to the-bed I.l The label Vpresser-hlada Ithrough the medium or its l' pivotal connection, may befgraised and lowered withthe clamp zand, Efurthermore;l this,` connection will prevent, anyaendwise,movement of the presser-blade.;Begreiative;tothe needle 5 during the workeshiiting:movementof,the work-clamp. The presser-bladel is. provided: in its` bottom portion withlaflongitndinall groove Safor thetpurpose of providingrelie' directlyabove .that portion of the work! which is adaptedieto receive` the stitches. This relief is eEective-fto..reduceto a minimum the-@oppositionv to `theieeding. of 'the 4work by the worin-clampA relatively. .tothe `.staticnary blade 315;

Secured? to fthe base-:plate ld; by .means ofthe screws .4.1: aandJlZ is afwork-.supporting r-apron d3 s which;lis:shitedback and forth relative t0, the

needle 6 in .response to :theaction4 of :theieedwheel.` El -a. In .orderatmprevent thaworll from droppngdown .andbeingocaneht between the f orw-ard .portion oi therapron and the workfy-supporting plate Jl [,-fthere .ssecuredto the runder sideo the apronfaitongueelof Whichthe free endl portionjs slidablysupportedbnthe throat-plate H. Y. v

With particularmeference-tdFig, 5,4 itv may be seenthatwithithe present; construction; when the clamp iis .lc wvered...to,holdthe,y label 45 ion. thevv spongy material-latheobladed and itsheadf f engagethe .free-marginal portioniilxohthe label l5-'land hold-it down .againstthematerial d5.- As

theclainpfl-VL feeds .thematerial '.48 fand, label 425 f Vrelative#to the -needleglin the usual'mannenthe pressereblade fSllLremaiIisstationary anditheiedge Ofthelabel-slides unden the presser-.blade Stand is 1 presented. .n-...ag :substantially at.position,; as

shown-.in Fig. 5,ltothelstitcheforming mechanism;

In thesewing machine-chosen to' illustrateA the present improvement;theipresser-blade ,3 maintainsthamarginal vportieri of .the .label d5 in `a flattened position! such-that fthe .vibratory` Yneedle successivelystepsv overl-theedge of :the label and thereby jerfectively overstit'che's and Yconceals Ithe edge` of-the'labeli. Thisiisadesirable becauseainishedprodu'ct.orhighv quality can be produced byI usi-n'gja -iess `expensive Vout edge label, Vinstead of the moref'expensive selvage edge label.:

Fig- 4 .illustratesth'ezlusual type. of clamp withal.

out the present improvement. It may be readily understood .that due to the spongy character of the material 46, the clamp 25 will sink into the same to the extent that the marginal portion 4l of the label 4l will project upwardly and' possibly out of the vertical path of the needle 6. Clearly, the present invention, as best shown in Fig. 5, overcomes the shortcomingsL inherent-in the prior type of work-clamp,

Having thus set forth the nature of the invenlition, what I claim herein is:

l. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitchforming mechanism including a reciprocatory needle, a work-clamp provided with a needleclearance Opening', means for relatively moving said needleand work-clamp lengthwise of the work-clamp. opening, a Work-presser disposed within said opening of the Work-clamp and provided with a needle-clearance slot, and supporting means providing for relative movement of said work-clamp and4 work-presser lengthwise ofsaid needleclearanceopening. of the work-clamp.

2. In a sewing machine, Vin combination,.stitch forming mechanism including a reciprocatory needle, awork-clampprovided with a needle-- clearance opening, means .for relatively moving. said needle and; work-clamp lengthwise or the.

work-clamp opening.. a Qwork-presser comprising a .blade disposed -lengthwise within Vthe .workclamp openingv and provided..at.one end with ai widened head, said head extending entirely across said .work-clampopening .in `,the region of the-path of reciprocation of rsaid,ne edle,.and.supporting means providing for A relativemovement: rof :said

work-clamp and work-.presser llengthwiseof fthe.

work-clamp opening.

3. VIn a sewing ,machina-.incombination, stitchforming. mechanism including... a ,reciprocatoly needle,` a work-,clamp ,provided with va -needle.

clearance opening, means. for relatively .moving said` .need-le.: andv work-.clamp lengthwise .of :the work-clamp. opening: a.-Y work-presser comprising.

a-.blade disposed.lengthwiseY withinatheI Workclamp opening. and, providedA with a .widenedhead intheregionof the path ofreciprocation of said needle, said headbeing slidablysupported by. said work-clampat opposite .sides of saidwork-clamp opening,and means -for impar-ting .relative .move-..

ment, to said; ,l work-.clamp and f work-presserv lengthwise .ofthework-clamp. opening, upon relative .movement of..,said needle and. work-clamp intthesame direction.

4.. In a. sewingl machine, in combination, stitching forming mechanism includinga reciprocatory needle,.a l.work-clampv provided. with a needle-V clearance opening, means. for.y relatively moving saidfneedle and vworkeclamp vlengthwise, of the work-clamp opening, a work-pressen.comprising a blade disposed .lengthwisefvithin vthe workclamp ,openingend providedgat.. one end With-a head havingwa needle-clearance slot, saidblade having a plurality of vsight apertures and said headbeing slidably supported bynsaid worlfcla'mp at opposite sides of said work-clamp opening,-and

meansfor-imparting relative lmovementtosaid work-clamp and-work-presser Alengthwise -orsaid- Work-clamp opening-in timed rela-tion with the relative `movementofsaidAv needle and work-clamp in the same direction.

5.1In.a sewing machina-.in combination, stitchforming.` mechanismincluding. a.y reciprocatory needle, Va travellinggz-workeclampprovided l :with

a `needle-clearance eopening; means..:forifshiiting said; work-clamp.v lengthwise. of thework;- clamp opening,l va work-presserhavingra .needleslot .and slidably supported by said work-clamp at opposite. sides of said work-clamp opening, and: means anchoringl said workj-presser againstv movement with said work-'clamp'. f 6. .Ina sewing machine, in combination, stitchforming mechanism "including a reciprocatory needle, av work-clamp 'provided with a needleclearance opening, means for relatively moving said needle and work-clamp lengthwise of the... work-clamp opening, a Work-presser 'disposed 1 foot, clampclosing means applied to said lever,

an auxiliary clamp member containing a needle aperture in one end lportion thereof, said auxiliary clamp being slidably received lengthwise within said stitch-receiving aperture, means to connect that end of the auxiliary clamp remote from the needle aperture with said bed, and feeding mechanism to move said foot and the work thereunder relative to said work-supporting plate and said auxiliary clamp for the reception ofstitches.

8. A work-clamp comprising a stationary bed, a work-supporting plate carried by said bed, a clamp-foot having a work-gripping surface opposed to said plate, an arm carrying said foot, an auxiliary presser-member having a needle aperture therein, one end of said auxiliary presser being pivotally secured to said bed and having the other end thereof carried by said clamp-foot, clamp-closing means applied to said arm for pressing the clamp-foot and auxiliary presser upon the work resting upon said work-supporting plate, and feeding mechanism to move said clamp-foot and the work thereunder relatively to said work-supporting plate and said auxiliary presser.

9. A sewing machine work-clamp comprising a stationary bed, a work-supporting plate carried by said bed, a clamp-foot opposed to said work-supporting plate, said foot having a rectangular stitch-receiving aperture, means at the sides of said aperture to grip work resting upon said plate, auxiliary presser means carried by said foot and positioned within the aperture thereof, a lever supporting said foot, clampclosing means connected to said lever for pressing the foot and said auxiliary presser upon the work resting upon said plate, means pivotally connecting said auxiliary presser to said bed, and feeding mechanism to move said foot and the work thereunder relatively to said worksupporting plate and said auxiliary presser means.

10. A work-clamp for sewing machines having a stationary bed with a work-supporting plate carried thereby, said clamp comprising a foot portion opposed to said work-supporting plate and having an elongated stitch-receiving aperture, work-clamping portions at the under face of said foot at the sides of said aperture, an auxiliary presser member slidably mounted lengthwise within said aperture, means connectingsaid auxiliary presser member-with said bed,

and means to feed said foot and the work there# under relatively to said work-supporting plate and said auxiliary presser means in the .direction of the stitch-receiving aperture elongation.

l1. A work-clamp for sewing machines having a stationary bed with aV work-supporting plate carried thereby, said clamp comprising, a foot portion opposed to said work-supporting plate and having an elongated stitch-receiving aperture,

work-clamping portions at the under face lof saidy foot at the sides of said aperture, an auxiliary clamp member having a needle aperture in one end portion thereof which is slidably mountedl lengthwise within said stitch-receiving aperture, means connecting that end of said auxiliary clamp remote from the needle aperture withfsai'd bed, and means tofeed 'said foot and the work thereunder relatively to said work-supporting plate and said auxiliary clamp in the direction oft the stitch-receiving aperture elongation.

l2. The combination with a sewing machine i.

having a bed, and a smooth surfaced stationary work-supporting plate mounted uponsaid bed` clamp havingA a lower plate lslidable longitudi nally of but xed laterally with relation to said Work-supporting plate, a clamp-lever carried on said lower plate, a clamp-foot carried by said lever and having a rectangular stitch-receiving opening and work-gripping portions at the sides of said opening clampingly opposed to said worksupporting plate, an auxiliary clamp member having one end portion thereof slidably received longitudinally within said stitch-receiving opening, means to pivotally connect the other end portion of said auxiliary clamp to said bed, and feeding means to move said work-clamp longitudinally of and relative to said work-supporting plate and said auxiliary clamp.

13. The combination with a Sewing machine having a bed, a smooth lsurfaced stationary work-supporting plate mounted upon said bed, and stitching mechanism including a needle adapted to perform a group of barring stitches, of a work-clamp having a lower plate slidable longitudinally of but xed laterally with relation to said work-supporting plate, a clamp-lever carried on said lower plate, a clamp-foot carried by said lever and having a rectangular stitch-receiving opening, work-gripping portions at the sides of said opening clampingly opposed to Isaid work-supporting plate, an auxiliary clamp member having a needle aperture in an end portion thereof which is slidably mounted within a pair of parallel grooves, each of said grooves being provided longitudinally of and adjacent the bottom edge of one of the opposite side walls of said stitch-receiving aperture, means connecting that end of said auxiliary clamp remote from the needle aperture with said bed, and feeding means to move said work-clamp longitudinally of and relative to said work-supporting plate and said auxiliary clamp.

14. In a sewing machine having a bed, a stationary work-supporting plate mounted upon said bed, and stitching mechanism including a needle, a two-part work-clamp comprising one member having a rectangular stitch-receiving aperture, a second member slidably mounted lengthwise within said aperture, work-gripping means provided at the bottom face of one of said two members, means to press said two members 7 pastsadstitehingmechanism;and.means toholdt; theiiothernmemben ,xed :relativejcoesaidzfvvorkwt supportingplatew;

15.21111 .fa sewingemahineehavingzfa rbedfa .stas Y, tionary-,fwork-supporting Y. plate.: mounted:Y upon. i said bed;- ,and stitching mechanism including .a needle adapted-to performr a :group ofbarring stitches,; a two-pari;v work-clamp Acomprisingl one member ha-ving ga stitch-receiving aperturefa second member hallngea Yneedle aperture therein, said second.memberloeing directlyppposed to said f work-supportineplace:and lbeingpositioned` between the aperture-definingside-walls of -sacll first member, Work-gripping means provided 'at theY bottom face of. one ,of I*said cvvo members, means to press each of said Amembers toward said bed, means to raise both-members simultaneously 0E vtherwork, means tovfeedone of said membersand the work beneath-,the same .past-said stitching mechanism, andmeans feo holdthenother member fixed relative `to said@work-supporting p1ate.

16. In a sewing machine, in cambination, stitch-forming mechanismy includingy a recprocatory needle, a l,Work-clamp provided with a needlefclearance .,opening, means forv relatively moving-1said. ;needlexandmvorkclamp lengthwisey ofthe Workeelanrngi `openin`g.an;ia Work-pnesserli slidably supported by;V said. Workaclamp :at;,opposi.

site; sides .of said work-clamp opening .foriirelative :movement ofgthe. Work-Aclamn; and worke, presser; lengthwise. of said opening, said work-f. pigesservextending across said; work-clamp operi-3;;l ingiinthefregion of Ache path'f reciprocationf saidf needle;.;.

of v,the f work-clamp; openingna work-pressen 4dis?.

posedwithinsaid oneninefilme..W0rkfclalnfrpandA having; a a f lmvftiexlf;` thereof-f extending; entirely acrosszsaid opening .the Vregion .0f the pathfof y recipyoeajqien of -saidr needle-and supporting, Amearvlsr providing for frelative lmovement; Lof-1 said .l Work-:clamp Vsand- Work-presserr lengthwise yof, saidY f needle-clearance opening, and iorpreventing. rel-1, ative. movement of said! work-elampfand ,-vvorlz-fj Y presser in a direction normal-tofthefplaneof the.:

vvork.-l Y

ALFRED R. 1WOOD. 

